Congratulations to all of the teams for a terrific season and competitive season-ending tournament in our Machine Pitch and Senior Youth divisions.

MP Champions - The Nationals beat the RedSox in a sudden death tie-breaker.  The Red Sox had gone into the Saturday championship game having won all its games.  The Nationals came into Championship Saturday with one loss and needed to beat the Red Sox to force a tie-breaker.  That is exactly what they did.   Nationals won the first game Saturday and then went on to win the tie-breaker.  Congratulations to the Nationals, and also to the Red Sox for some excellent contests in the tournament. 

SY Champions - The Nationals in SY also beat the SY Red Sox for the tournament title.  The Nationals arrived at Championship Saturday with no loses while the Red Sox had one and needed to beat the Nats in the first game to force a tie-breaker.  This first game was exciting as the lead changed hands literally each inning as the players gave it their all. The Red Sox were 2 outs away from victory with a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 6th (and last) inning when the Nats ripped a 2 RBI single for the win and the trophy.

What an exciting way to end an exciting and action packed summer baseball season.   We hope the PAA players and families enjoyed the games, and clinics PAA provides and we hope everyone received lots of playing time and at bats.  We look forward to seeing everyone back next summer.  Registration will take place next April.  Easy way to remember is when its tax day, its also time to register for PAA Summer Baseball.

We hope everyone in our Machine Pitch and Senior Youth divisions enjoyed the 2011 Skills Challenge played only in PAA Summer Baseball.  As usual, this annual event generated a lot of fun and entertainment for players and spectators alike.  The Skills Challenge Champs are:

Machine Pitch:

     Team  Competition - RED SOX

     Golden Glove -  Bryan McBride (Orioles)

     Longest Hit -  Ty McKee (Orioles)

Senior Youth:

     Team Competition -  NATIONALS

     Golden Glove -  Joshua Seligson (Yankees)

     Longest Hit -  DJ Boltz (Red Sox)

Congratulations to these teams and players, and congratulations to everyone who competed.  The Skills Challenge is an event PAA Summer Baseball enjoys hosting because it provides a different form of competition and a tremendous amount of fun. 

The two teams battling it out for the Machine Pitch Title are the Red Sox vs Nationals.  Also playing MP on Saturday are the Braves vs Tigers.  Games will be played at Barrons at 9:30am.

The two teams battling it out for the Senior Youth Title are the Nationals vs Red Sox.  Also playing are the Yankees vs Orioles.  SY Games will begin at 9:00am at Phillips.

It will be hot so please bring your players plenty of fluids. 

On Monday of this week the Yankees beat the Nationals to seemingly move into the Championship game Saturday.  But the Nationals have subsequently been awarded the victory based on a disqualification because the Yankees utilized an ineligible pitcher Monday night.  The rule in question is that involving Pitcher's Rest.  The rule states:

Pitchers Rest:  Pitchers having pitched more than 2 innings of a game must have at least 1 game or 2 days rest, which ever is sooner, before pitching again.  Pitchers who have pitched 2 or fewer innings may pitch the next game.  Coaches are to report to each other which pitchers cannot pitch based on this rule, prior to the start of every game.      

Unfortunately the Yankees used a pitcher for 4 innings on Saturday making him not eligible to pitch again until Tuesday per the rule.  But they used this same pitcher on Monday against the Nationals.  It does not appear to be an intentional violoation by the Yankees in that their coach believed 2 days had passed given the Saturday game was a morning game and the Monday game was an evening game.  But Pitcher Rest rules widely used throughout baseball including such youth leagues as Little League, Cal Ripkin and Babe Ruth consider "days rest" to mean calendar days, not by counting hours.  It is explicitly stated in PAA's Rules that our league rules are based on HS rules and the Virginia High School League (VHSL) rules for Pitcher Limitations also address these limitations in terms of "calendar days" (sectiion 56-1-1 of the 2011 VHSL Policy & Procedure Manual).  PAA uses this same generally accepted "days" rest convention as all these major youth baseball organizations, and we are consistent with the HS rules upon which our league rules are based. 

Additionally, if the rule was intended and/or interpreted to mean exactly 48 hours then a pitcher could pitch the 1st 3 innings of a Tuesday game, and the last 3 innings of a Thursday game each week in that 48 hours would have passed.   Such 3-inning Tues-Thurs pitching rotation has not been attempted or suggested all season, and would not have been allowed if attempted. 

It was not an easy decision to disqualify a team from a victory in the tournament, but in fairness to all teams competing under the same rules, it was a necessary action.  This was unfortunate and we do not believe intentional but a violotion did occur and was appropriately addressed.  The Yankees have lost only one game and are still in the running for the title with a game on Thursday. 

Your team's game(s) date and time will be determined based on your win's and losses within this bracket structure.  Continue to refer back to this schedule as the tournament progresses.

Below are the dates and times of the games per each round of the tournament.  Your team's specific game dates will be determined by your wins and losses as the tournament progresses. Please refer back to to this schedule after each game to see when your next game will be.  The highest seeded team will be the home team at the beginning of the tournament, and throughout the tournament for teams which have not lost. The home team for the Losers Bracket will be determined by coin toss.

One of PAA Summer Baseball's supporters, the Virginia Baseball Academy (VBA) which is operated by former MLB Phillies & Red Sox pitcher Wayne Gomes has offered PAA players a $50 discount off any of its 4-day summer camps.  But in order to receive this discount you must register at VBA this Thursday (June 9th) or Saturday (June 11th).  Ask to register with Marketing Director Wanda Gomes. 

Each camp includes:   

All camps are held at VBA, 1322 LaSalle Ave Hampton 23669. 

The Virginia Baseball Academy (VBA) is hosting a free baseball clinic for PAA this Sunday, July 10, with instructors from the Peninsula Pilots.  Times for age divsions are:

11:00am - 1:30pm   Senior Youth & Teens will cover fielding, hitting, pitching & baserunning

2:00pm - 4:00pm    Machine Pitch will cover fielding, hitting, and baserunning

VBA is owned and operated by Hampton native Wayne Gomes, a former MLB pitcher with the Phillies and Red Sox.  Wayne currently is the pitching coach for the Peninsula Pilots and he has arranged to have several Peninsula Pilots players to be instructors for this baseball clinic put on exclusively for PAA.

 We would like 100% participation from our Machine Pitch, Senior Youth and Teen players.  The clinic is free but we will have a donation jar for anyone who can donate $2-$3 dollars to go to help pay a small stipend to the Pilot instructors.  But even if you cannot afford a small donation, we want everyone to attend.  Parents are welcomed to stay and watch as the PAA players receive fantastic instruction from some of the possible stars of MLB in the future.  Please come dressed in your PAA Uniform with your glove.  Feel free to bring your bats and helmets or they will be provided there.  Do not miss this great opportunity provided to PAA Summer Baseball players. 

This attachement is a pdf file of the TBall-CoachPitch game schedule for this summer.  

Supporters of PAA Summer Baseball have provide some nice perks for players this summer, but they are time sensitive so it is important that you receive these items from your coach timely.   Your coaches should have given you (or will give you) the following:

 1.  Free Day Pool Pass at Elizabeth Lakes.  This is good for 1 day of fun at the pool for your players and several family members.  But it is good only for the weekend of June 4th & 5th.   For information about this community pool go to:  http://elizabethlakeestates.net/

2.  Coupon for a Free Game at Cosmic Putt Miniture Golf.  This coupon is good for 1 free game, no purchase necessary; but it expires July 31 so be sure to use it before then.  For information about Cosmic Putt Cafe go to:  http://cosmicputt.com/

3.  $50 off one of the Virginia Baseball Academy's (VBA) summer baseball clinics.  VBA in Hampton has 4-day daytime clinics for kids which covers hitting, fielding, pitching, and catching.  VBA founder Wayne Gomes is a former MLB Pitcher and he, along with players from the Peninsula Pilots are the instructors for the clinics.  Regular price is $149 per clinic (week), but he is giving PAA Players a price of $99 per clinic (week).    IMPORTANT - in order to get this disount you can sign up for any of the clinic dates in June or July, but you must sign up in person at VBA on June 2, 4, 9 or 11.   If you have any questions about this deal contact VBA at 251-6367 and ask for their Marketing Director, Wanda.  For information about VBA go to:  http://www.virginiabaseballacademy.com/

Your coaches were given the Pool Pass, Cosmic Putt coupon, and VBA Clnic Coupon so if you have not received these, please ask your coach for them.

By now everyone should have heard from their coaches and teams may have had one or two practices.  Our Teen teams should begin practicing this week.  We know some of you are still playing your spring sports.  We want you to fulfill those committments and continue your spring team practices and games.  But on days you do not have activities w those teams, we want you to attend your PAA Practices.

 If you have not heard from your coach please send an email noting this to PhillipsBaseball@cox.net and provide the name and age of your player.  Also note that the teams have been formed and the shirts with specific player sizes have been ordered.  Please do not email or call with any requests to change teams or coaches.

  PAA games will begin the week of June 13.

Elizabeth Lakes Community Swim Pool is going to provide every PAA Baseball player a one-day Free Pool Pass for themselves and immediate family members to be used during the weekend of June 4th & 5th.  Passes will be handed out by the coaches at practices which begin in late May.

We appreciate Elizabeth Lakes Pool's support for PAA Baseball by providing this great opportunity to cool off after playing America's favorite past-time.  Information about this pool, which is open for membership to all Hampton residents, can be found at the following link:          http://www.elizabethlakeestates.net/

Here are some important dates for the upcoming 2011 Season

1.  Practices Begin - Coaches s/b be calling you the week of May 22 and practices should begin immediately thereafter.

2.  In Motion Sports Performance Clinic for PAA is tentatively scheduled for Saturday June 18.  The clinic will apply to Teens and Senior Youth, and we are working with In Motionn to possibly add Machine Pitch and TBall/CoachPitch.

3.  VBA Peninsula Pilots Baseball Clinic for PAA is scheduled for Sunday July 10.  This clinic will apply to Machine Pitch, Senior Youth, and Teens.  The Sunday date was selected due to schedule availability of both VBA and the Pilots.

4.  PAA Skills Challenge is tentatively scheduled for Saturday July 16.  This event applies to Machine Pitch and Senior Youth.

This attachement is a pdf file for the TBall-CoachPitch game schedule for this summer.   We hope to have the game dates & times loaded to this website shortly.

This attachement is a pdf file for the TBall-CoachPitch game schedule for this summer.   We hope to have the game dates & times loaded to this website shortly.